Protecting Your Water Vehicle from Termite Damage

Because water vehicles are often constructed of wood, termites can cause damage to boats and yachts. This can often happen when the vessels are being stored in your garage or by the side of your house, or in another housing facility such as a boat house. Most of the structural supports in modern wood boats are made of a softer wood such as pine. While exterior hull parts are often made of hardwoods to ensure beauty, strength, and durability. Because the interior portions are made of softer wood that is easier for a termite to breakdown they will readily make their homes in the interior portions, but can also damage the hardwood sections.

Termites Prefer All Types of Wood

Because Drywood termites do not need excess water they will often infest the portions of boats that are not near the water. Subterranean termites usually prefer feeding on the soft interior wood of the vessel, but will attack hardwoods if conditions are right. Evaporating bilge water leads to higher moisture levels in the wood, thus creative a condition conducive to infestation by subterranean termites. Occasionally termites have attack more than just the wooden parts of boats and yachts – rope, canvas and even navigational charts can be damaged by a termite infestation.

Fiberglass Vessels and Termites

If the entire vessel is made of fiberglass and there is no cellulose material, fiberglass vessels are not prone to termite infestation. But you should remember that any wood-based product contains cellulose, so if fiberglass vessels that have wooden backing they can still be attacked by termites.

Termite Treatment for Water Vehicles

Treating infested boats and yachts can be difficult. Because these vessels are usually on or near the water, extreme care needs to be taken to ensure the protection of the waters. Boats and yachts that are able to be removed from the water are able to be treated with a few various methods. Additionally, any treatments done to the vessel need to be inspected by a marine architect or other specialist to ensure that the repairs do not affect the vessel’s ability to be put back in the water.